Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her Spanish counterpart on the potential mutual benefits of short term visa free travel for the purposes of tourism.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or short-term trips as they do now, without needing a visa.
The EU has also announced that UK nationals would be able to enter the EU visa-free for short periods after the country’s exit, provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when travelling to the UK.
Both these arrangements apply whether we leave the EU with or without a deal.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of compensating musicians for the additional costs incurred through travelling to the EU with instruments and equipment in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Our cultural and creative sectors are one of the UK’s greatest success stories. We will ensure that these sectors continue to thrive and that collaboration with our European partners continues to flourish beyond our exit from the EU. Journeys and routes around the EU are varied and unique to each musician.
However, we have engaged extensively with the cultural sector, and understand the diverse circumstances of companies, organisations and individual practitioners and how they may need to adapt as we leave the EU. These include changes for visas, social security and movement of equipment, including instruments when moving around the EU. We are working with other colleagues across government to ensure these are factored into our preparations and future negotiations.
The Government has now agreed the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. We believe this is the best outcome for all UK sectors.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, for what reasons the UK Government rejected the Scottish Government's proposals for the UK to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union, as set out in its 2016 paper, Scotland's place in Europe.
Answered by James Duddridge
The Prime Minister has been clear that we will be leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. The people gave their instructions to Parliament in the referendum in 2016, and now we must deliver on that pledge.
The UK Government’s ambition is for an ambitious FTA, as sovereign equals, without obligation to vast alignment or harmonisation commitments. This will involve leaving the Customs Union and Single Market, in order to have full regulatory control so that we can be free to set our own laws and to strike trade deals.
The details of this partnership will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union. We are preparing for that negotiation, and will work with a wide range of partners, including the devolved administrations, to ensure a successful outcome that delivers in the interests of all parts of the UK.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour - Salford and Eccles)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal on access to EU clinical trials for children with rare cancers.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The United Kingdom and the European Union have a long track record of jointly tackling global challenges with strong existing links already in place between our research and innovation communities. We look forward to continuing our relationship in research and innovation with the EU, regardless of EU exit.
As part of exit negotiations, we are working to ensure that we continue to have the best possible environment in which to support clinical trials. Our overall aim is to ensure that patients in the UK, including children with rare cancers, have access to the best and most innovative medicines.
The Department has and continues to examine the effect on clinical trials of the UK leaving the EU with and without a deal across a range of areas, including access to, and mobility of, the research leaders and the technical and research delivery workforce; access to EU research funding; the regulation of clinical trials, data and devices; rare diseases research; and clinical trials supplies.
With regards to children with rare cancers, we are fully aware that the scarcity of patients in any single country means that clinical research into rare diseases strongly benefits from international collaboration.
It is important to make clear that irrespective of whether we leave the EU with or without a deal, the UK’s ability to participate in multinational trials, in the EU or the rest of the world, will not change and UK clinical trial applications will continue to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and ethical committees as they are now.
Beyond EU Exit, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) cancer research expenditure has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £136 million in 2017/18, which constitutes the largest investment in a disease area. The NIHR Clinical Research Network has over 800 cancer trials and studies recruiting or in set-up. Through the NIHR Clinical Research Network, the proportion of patients entering cancer clinical trials and studies is more than double that in any other country for which data exists, including the United States.
The NIHR works with Cancer Research UK to fund the Paediatric Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network which plays a leading role in speeding up the process of cancer drug development and the search for cancer biomarkers – molecules present in blood or tissue - that can be used to diagnose cancer, predict the aggressiveness of the disease, or show whether a drug will be effective in a specific patient and at what dose.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour - Salford and Eccles)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for maintaining access to (a) the European Reference Network on paediatric haemato-oncology and (b) other European reference networks in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government would prefer to leave the European Union with a deal and will work in an energetic and determined way to get a better deal. However, if we were to leave the EU without a deal, it is expected that the United Kingdom would lose membership of European Reference Networks. UK patients will continue to benefit from the world-leading clinical expertise available here in the UK and patients will have the same access to UK expertise as they do now.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter to UK citizens residing in the EU from NHS Business Services Authority dated 23 September 2019, what estimate he has made of the time it will take for his Department to settle payments for the treatment specified in that letter; and if he will publish that letter.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The United Kingdom Government has announced it will fund the healthcare of existing UK-insured individuals living or working in the European Union, on the same basis as now, for a further six months after exit day if we leave without a deal. The mechanisms and the time taken to make these payments will depend on the Member State.
The UK is, in the first instance, seeking to use established processes and continue making payments at country-to-country level as we do now. If Member States do not agree to this, the UK Government will offer to pay healthcare providers in the EU directly. The timing of the payment will depend on when providers or individuals provide the necessary information to NHS Business Services Authority. Payments will be made within five days after a request for reimbursement has been validated.
A copy of the letter sent to UK pensioners and benefit holders living in the EU from NHS Business Services Authority is available at the following link:
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the reciprocal effect on UK citizens living in the EU of measures to tighten the migration to the UK of EU citizens in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government values the significant contribution that EU citizens make to our public services and our communities, and we want them to stay. The Prime Minister has given an unequivocal guarantee that they will have the absolute certainty of the continued right to live and remain in the UK after Brexit.
That certainty is being delivered by the EU Settlement Scheme, and nearly 1.5 million people have already been granted status under the scheme. That status will enable EU citizens and their family members to secure their rights in UK law, with the same rights to work and access benefits and services as they have now. The scheme will cover all EU citizens living in the UK before Brexit on 31 October, and their family members, and they will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply.
Freedom of movement as it currently stands under EU law will be brought to an end when we leave the EU on 31 October. From January 2021, we will introduce a new points-based immigration system. This will prioritise the skills and contributions people can make to the UK, rather than where they come from. In a no deal scenario, there will be a transitional period before the new immigration system commences in 2021. We have announced details of the temporary immigration arrangements that will operate during this period and they are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-deal-immigration-arrangements-for-eu-citizens-moving-to-the-uk-after-brexit
Law-abiding EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit will still be able to live and work in the UK for a temporary period, but we will make it harder for serious criminals to enter the UK. Those new arrivals who wish to stay beyond the end of 2020 will need to apply for a UK immigration status. The Home Office will open a new immigration scheme – the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme to provide a route to apply for this status. The online application process will be simple and free of charge. Subject to identity, security and criminality checks, successful applicants will be granted 36 months’ leave to remain in the UK. This will provide them with a bridge into the new immigration system from 2021.
The Government looks forward to seeing the EU27 set out such clear and generous arrangements for UK nationals living in the EU.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the EU on technical alternatives to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has now issued a new proposal which means we can leave on 31 October without disruption and in a friendly way. It is a fair and reasonable compromise for all sides that respects the referendum. It contains a special arrangement for Northern Ireland that protects the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the peace process, and ensures democratic consent for the arrangement.
There have been ongoing discussions with the European Union at Prime Ministerial, Ministerial and Sherpa level in recent weeks and these will continue.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which EU countries (a) have and (b) have not yet implemented arrangements equivalent to the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme to enable UK citizens to obtain leave to remain in their EU country of residence.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Protecting the rights of both British Nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the United Kingdom is an absolute priority for this government. Should we leave the EU with a deal, Member States must implement a system for British Nationals to secure their residency rights. This could be a constitutive system like the EU Settlement Scheme, or a declaratory system. Existing rules and regulations relating to Citizens’ Rights will continue to apply until the end of the Implementation Period.
In the event of No Deal, all Member States have now enacted or drafted legislation to protect British Nationals' rights, including residency rights. However, the processes, timeframes and criteria for registering and applying for residency vary significantly by Member State. We are engaging intensively with Member States, asking them to reciprocate fully the United Kingdom's guarantee to EU citizens. We are also urging Member States to ensure robust implementation and effective communication of their plans. We encourage British Nationals living in the wider EU to subscribe to their relevant Living in Guide on gov.uk for up-to-date information on the steps they need to take to get ready for Brexit.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 286313, tabled on 3 September 2019 by the hon. Member for Ilford North.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government is determined to provide certainty to people and businesses on Brexit.
We are now making further funding available for ‘no deal’ preparations. The Treasury has provided an additional £2.1bn for ‘no deal’ preparations this year, which doubled the amount of Brexit funding available for 2019-20. The Treasury has now made available £6.3 billion to prepare for Brexit, including £4.2 billion funding this financial year alone. £2 billion of further funding in 2020-21 will help the UK to establish a new relationship with the EU, and capitalise on the opportunities created by Brexit.
We continue to engage with business at all levels to ensure industry is prepared for all scenarios. Government is ensuring businesses are ready to leave the EU on 31 October through a national programme of business readiness.